Absent Friends
Stewart Francke
1958 - 2025
G. Stewart Francke, Jr. left us quietly on the morning of May 9, 2025. He is predeceased by his parents, G. Stewart and Katherine Francke and leaves behind a legacy of love with his wife Julia, daughter Tess Francke Barrett (Malachi) and son G. Stewart III, sisters Kit Reece and Martha Humphreys (John) and many nieces and nephews, great friends and fans. Stewart was born September 15, 1958 in Saginaw Michigan. Growing up in Saginaw, Michigan, Stewart recalled it as a great time to be a kid. Stewart watched his father, a car man and then-mayor of Saginaw, try to make sense of racial strife and class inequities in an industrial city. These observations often colored his music. Stewart became a music journalist after college, contributing to the Detroit Metro Times and national publications. Stewart was an ambassador for Detroit music long before Kid Rock, the White Stripes or Eminem.
His insightful reporting and commentary was followed by his own music, making him an important part of the burgeoning Detroit music scene. As a singer-songwriter, Stewart recorded 12 critically acclaimed albums and earned multiple Detroit Music Awards, becoming a vital figure in the city’s musical renaissance.
In 1998, Stewart was diagnosed with Leukemia. It was a serious interruption to an artist's career, but more importantly to a father of young children and husband held together by his beautiful wife. Stewart’s sister, Kit, was a match and he underwent a stem cell transplant in the fall of 1998. Incredible doctors and nurses at Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit contributed to saving his life. He chronicled this experience in his memoir, What Don’t Kill Me, which stands as a testament to his determination and strength. He fought hard against other health issues throughout his life. A hemorrhagic stroke in 2019 sidelined him from the stage but did not deter his spirit or his great love for his wife and children.
Stewart built friendships with many big names in entertainment. Bruce Springsteen spoke of him as someone who creates beautiful poignant music. In 2010 Springsteen partnered with Stewart on his song “Summer Soldier.”
Stewart was a brilliant musician and an extraordinary human being who will be remembered for many things. If he met you, he treated you as a friend. If he loved you, he loved you deeply. He dedicated significant time counseling literally hundreds of cancer patients and their families.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at The Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, Michigan. Visitation will take place in the chapel from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., followed by Mass at 10:00 a.m.
In memory of Stewart, donations may be made to Be The Match at www.bethematch.org.
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